Fabio Capello led a shambolic England World Cup campaign. Weak in all departments, England's players looked as miserable as their performances. Capello's Sergeant Major act appeared to fool us all into the mistaken viewpoint that he was some form of strategic genius. The scales fell from our eyes when England failed to beat the United States and Algeria, and were thrashed by Germany. Our only victory was against the smallest nation in the tournament - Slovenia. Some return for £6 million a year in Capello's wages.

There are real questions to be asked at the Football Association. We perhaps know too little about Capello's Italian backroom staff. Why Stuart Pearce, a failure at Manchester City and a very far from successful England under 21 manager is on the coaching staff is unclear, save for the need for the FA to have an Englishman about the place. Quite what David Beckham was doing on the England bench during the World Cup is a mystery. Finally there is the question of Capello's communciation skills. I thought he aged visibly during the tournament, but the BBC interview he gave Gabby Yorath after the German match was at best surreal, at worst indecipherable. There was a time we had no such concerns (does anyone remember Croatia away?) but if he comes across to the players the way he spoke in that interview, it is difficult to see how he could hold the dressing room.

June 28, 2010

An interesting insight into how local government increasingly empowers religious organisations and institutions in Hackney.

On Friday I had three photocopied sheets of paper put through my letter box from Hackney Homes. These advised me I could attend a housing outreach surgery at Suleymaniye Mosque on Kingsland Road. Two hour surgeries are held on the last Friday of each month.

Why anyone on my estate would wish to use this service is hard to see. Firstly the Mosque is further away than the Neighbourhood Office, indeed you would have to walk considerably further, in the opposite direction, to reach it. Secondly an outreach surgery will not have access to the full range of staff and services that the Neighbourhood Office does, or the free telephone line to report repairs.

So what is the point? Well, in management speak such actions 'tick a box' and allow Hackney Homes to state that they are positively engaging with the community. For the mosque, which is also known as the UK Turkish Islamic Cultural Centre, it raises their profile, puts them in the Council's good books and gives them an elevated status over secular institutions in the same community. To quote from the mosques summary on the Hackney Council website:

"The centre aims to relieve distress, sickness and poverty amongst the Muslim community and aims for the advancement of Islam."

Should Councils be reinforcing the prominence of religious institutions in their communities? Many will say not. The problems that can occur when one institution is chosen, and countless others are not, should be obvious to all. Secondly I am all for relieving sickness, distress and poverty amongst everyone, but fail to see how the advancement of Islam does this. Indeed a glance at those societies where Islam is the dominant form of governance suggests greater sickness, distress and poverty than here in the West. And that is without even going into the position of women in those societies. Should Hackney Homes be working with an organisation that seeks the 'advancement of Islam'? It is certainly ironic that the Turkish state was predicated on the belief that progress and advancement could only come from reducing the role of religion in government, yet here in the UK the opposite process now seems to be actively encouraged!

As for myself, the last time I heard from Hackney Homes was at the end of May, when they wrote to me with regards to a housing issue I raised. They aimed to send me a proper reply by 3rd June. Over three weeks later, I'm still waiting. Perhaps they could try some outreach in my direction one Friday?

June 26, 2010

Brighthouse are a high street chain offering a range of goods on credit - at what appears to be a minimum 29.9%APR. In other words get something from them worth £100, and you pay £129.99. Such 'deals' offer working class people the opportunity to purchase often essential goods such as cookers and washing machines, but with the long term outcome of greater debt and poverty.

Still, who cares as long as Brighthouse are waving a flag of St George whilst ripping us off?

The good news is plenty of people do care. Debt on Our Doorstep are just one example, whilst Brighthouse has attracted the focus of the consumer protection industry, as this expose reveals. Whilst taking the above picture at a local Brighthouse store, I attracted the attention of a particularly aggressive security guard, who clearly saw my actions as potential trouble. Such sensitivities speak volumes.

As the recession bites, the favourite message of David Cameron and Nick Clegg is 'we are all in this together'. That is nonsense. We are on one side, and the likes of Brighthouse are on the other. We should not forget it, even if they do support the same football team as us.........

June 25, 2010

This story comes courtesy of the blog of Ted Jeory, the former East London Advertiser editor, who has now gone down in the world and is Whitehall Editor of the Daily Express.

Terry Fitzpatrick is a well known figure in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, be it for his past work on the Blair Peach case, for Searchlight, his letters to the Hackney Gazette or his on-line posting on blogs such as Socialist Unity and Harry's Place. According to Jeory, Fitzpatrick was arrested by the Met on May 5, following a complaint from Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote.

On June 8 Fitzpatrick appeared at Thames Magistrates Court charged with racially aggravated harassment.

Given this case is on-going, I have disabled comments, but will enable them when it has reached its conclusion.

June 24, 2010

Anyone who grew up in the North West in the 1980s will be saddened to hear of the death, at just 54, of Chris Sievey, who was the man under the paper mache head of Frank Sidebottom. Indeed I am not sure a finer man has ever put on a paper mache head in the whole of England.

I have in front of me my 1988 copy of "Frank Sidebottom Salutes The Magic Of Freddie Mercury and Queen, and also Kylie Minogue (you know, ...her off 'Neighbours')" and it is evidence that well before Kylie became a gay icon, and many years before the pertness of her bum became a matter of such concern, her talent had been recognised in Timperley. Frank Sidebottom was a man years ahead of his time. That the EP was made at all, despite the frequent interruptions from Frank's mum, who kept entering his shed even though "I am doing show business in here mum" is tantamount to the commitment Chris Sievey showed to his art.

Altrincham FC rightly paid tribute to Frank in a small piece in their website - it is to be hoped a more permanent tribute will follow. As Frank so often reminded us "The Robins Aren't Bobbins"..........
Frank Sidebottom

Few would have expected 1968 student radical Daniel Cohn-Bendit to know much about the game (am I correct in thinking that the 'May events' occurred whilst a perfectly good football season was still in progress?) but flicking through a pile of World Cup soccer supplements, I came across this little gem from the Daily Mirror of 19/6/2010:

"Daniel Cohn-Bendit, head of France's Ecology movement said "Les Bleus did not play and had no love for each other or the game. Zinedine Zidane was right - Domenech isn't a coach, he's just a guy who puts players on the pitch."

First off - isn't Cohn-Bendit German? In which case why is he so concerned about the French team?

Secondly, I wonder if his sudden expertise may develop a particular trend. Could we get the views of Tariq Ali on Fabio Capello? Eamonn McCann could have commented on Ireland but for Thierry Henry's handball, whilst Situationist Raoul Vaneigem, who famously abandoned the barricades in 68 because it was time for his annual holiday, could suggest some suitable destinations for those tiring of ITV's dreadful coverage of the tournament.

June 23, 2010

Some rare good news in a London that seems to give us so many depressing developments.

On June 16th Camden Council's licensing committee met, and amongst the items on the agenda was the future of the Cock Tavern in Euston. This is one of the few remaining traditional Irish pubs in north London, and the pub's future has been in some doubt due to police objections to its licence.

Due to the enormous show of support for the licensee, police objections were withdrawn - and the Cock is safe. Although there are rumours of a lick of paint (sacrilege!) the pub is now free to remain exactly as it currently stands.

June 22, 2010

People drinking beer in the stands during games.And very happy they seem too, even if it appears to be Budweiser.

Such boozing was a common sight in England until the anti-hooligan legislation of the Thatcher years. At Old Trafford they used to sell four pints of beer in little cardboard carrying trays, and fans would be absolutely blotto by the time the second half began (which was a good thing in the Dave Sexton years)

Legal changes forced the drinking into areas from which the pitch could not be seen, and United have stopped selling beer entirely in the stands at Champions League games, citing UEFA legislation. I only realised this is a lie when I travelled to Prague and saw Sparta Prague play a Champions League match. Not only did it cost under a tenner to enjoy a view that included the backdrop of Prague Castle, but a good Czech lager could be drunk, facing the pitch, for 35 pence a pint.

If FIFA think its OK to drink at the World Cup during matches, perhaps we should be campaigning for its re-introduction in England?

Yamaha appears to have been one of those terrace celebrities that emerge at certain football grounds (Pete Boyle at Manchester United and John Westwood at Portsmouth are British examples) He specialised in running on the touchline at Algeria matches, escaping the pursuing police, and mocking those in the VIP seats. Like so many in Algeria, he was to be murdered in 1995 by religious fanatics, for what Hawkey describes as "irreligious frivolity". He quotes one obituary:

"a national figure, for the joy he mobilised, a symbol of a youth that wants to enjoy life, a vivaciousness that has grown thanks to football".

At Yamaha's funeral thousands chanted "Algiers is not Kabul". Last night Algerians across the world will have chanted again, in pleasure rather than anger. I hope somewhere, Yamaha was looking down upon them, smiling with joy.

June 15, 2010

I am not sure vindication is the correct word in the circumstances, but it is one that is easy to reach for.

Those of us who took part in the annual Bloody Sunday commemoration in London will recall it was not the easiest event in the political calendar. Some years (1993 stands out in particular) the London march comprised the Political with a capital P, the battle hardened and I suspect the willfully suicidal. Each march was met by counter-demonstrations of varying size and combativity, with local fascists, loyalists, certain football firms and assorted right wingers always to the fore. The 1999 march was even met by a C18 contingent that with hindsight appears to have had almost as many spooks and infiltrators around it as actual participants (Darren Wells and Donal Macintyre to name just two)

For the 1994 march Class War made a particular effort to organise to defend the actual march itself, on its long route from Hyde Park Corner to Kilburn. This was oddly successful, with a very committed section on the whole march who it is fair to say were carrying enough weapons to sink a small battle ship had the fascists and loyalists broken through police lines. Elsewhere Anti-Fascist Action skirted the area, and when the two factions merged, one particular Irish pub was in danger of being drunk dry, as our respective thirsts were quenched. It was a lot better than the previous year!

Off we then headed to the Black Lion, and it was only later we discovered the fascists had eventually turned up, attacking a few old men nursing Guinness in the pub the anti-fascists and Republicans had vacated half an hour earlier. Some, including current BNP activists Jason Douglas, were to be jailed for their trouble.

Does any of this matter today? Probably not. But I do think some very committed, brave individuals, in groups like the Wolfe Tone Society and the Troops Out Movement, played a role in ensuring that in cities like London, Manchester and Glasgow what the Paras did on Bloody Sunday was not forgotten. That was and is important. And I am glad that I stood and marched with them.

June 13, 2010

Having lectured others including Tony Blair on the issue in the past, and complained of racism when it came to the education of black boys in London, Abbott was widely seen as hypocrite when she sent her son to a private school, despite predictable attempts to play the race card in her own defence.

That the Socialist Unity blog should make excuses for Ms Abbott is perhaps consistent with the identity politics that have dominated that blog for some years. Put simply, Abbott's many faults are to be ignored as she is the only black and female candidate for Labour leadership.

The editor of Socialist Unity, Andy Newman, has the habit of deleting my posts on his blog, citing potential libel. This has happened to posts I have made pointing out that Searchlight editor Nick Lowles once smuggled a hidden camera into a Yorkshire Anti-Fascist Action meeting, with the footage then appearing in a hostile World In Action documentary. The second instance was when I pointed out that one of the financiers of the Respect Party, Dr Mohammed Nassem of Birmingham Central Mosque, has distributed anti-semitic DVD's about the 7/7 attacks around the mosque.

Of these two incidents the first is pretty easy to prove - only one person at the AFA meeting went on to subsequently work on a series of documentaries with - World In Action. Nick Lowles. I am expecting the issue will be covered in some detail in the forthcoming book on Anti-Fascist Action by members of the Red Action group. As for the second, it was aired on the BBC's conspiracy files series. Dr Naseem did not sue them. Newman's actions are more about censoring critical political opinions that he cannot answer, especially when they expose the weakness of his own political circles. Just in case he deletes my comment from the thread on Abbott linked to above, here it is:

Andy Newman: “Well what is your explanation for the preference among many better off BAME parents for private schools?”

Paul Stott: That middle and upper class people from ethnic minorities are very similar to middle and upper class white people. They use their wealth to cement their advantages and to the exclusion of those without their privileges. It’s called class society Andy, and before you drowned in the liberalism of identity politics, you were still able to recognise it.

June 11, 2010

The first World Cup I remember is 1978. Indeed I am not likely to forget it. As England failed to qualify for Argentina, my mum bought me a Scotland shirt, and I am ashamed to say somewhere an incriminating photograph exists of an 8 year old with blonde curly locks and a Scotland shirt who looks suspiciously like a very young version of me.

Things improved by the time of the 1982 World Cup. Although there is no image of me wearing a Bulldog Bobby shirt (imagine the fuss if that mascot made a comeback, there must be more chance of World Cup Willy reappearing!) I can remember experiencing that usual mixture of English optimism and crushing failure as we waited for Brooking and Keegan to get fit, and were then promptly knocked out as soon as they were. But what a tournament! The classic Italy v Brazil match of that year provides memories that can never fade - the beauty of Socrates beating Dino Zoff at his near post will never leave me.

Although the best England have played at a World Cup in my lifetime was 1990, the best World Cup I have seen must be either 1982 or 2006. Italy's extra time performance in the semi-final against Germany in 2006 was total football - they had presumeably been told under no circumstances to allow the game to go to penalties - and attacked like men possessed. If only England under Sven Goran Erikson, in 2002 or 2006, had been capable of such a mindset as games approached penalty shoot outs. Let us hope that this time round, Fabio Capello has learned from the mistakes of his predecessor.

Hopes for this tournament? Firstly that South Africa can demonstrate FIFA was correct to give it the tournament. When it comes to Africa, our expectations are (probably rightly) low. The 2010 version of the ANC appears to have all the makings of a kleptocracy in place - perhaps the focus and involvement of the World Cup will shine a light into South African society at all levels. However, four weeks where a people leave the townships and enter the world stage will not mean much if after the football is finished they go back there, and the ANC, and its partners in the corporations, carry on as before.

Secondly that it is one of open play, rather than defensive mindsets and refereeing mistakes. How disreputable was South Korea's progress in 2002? Thirdly that there are some surprises. Of the smaller nations competing it is unlikely that many will be as popular as North Korea were in England in 1966, where, in less politically correct times, they were known as the Diddymen. That year the Diddymen beat Italy, and led 3-0 aggainst Portugal before losing 5-3. If North Korea could beat Portugal 5-3 this time, the World Cup would be perfect.

June 10, 2010

What is most fascinating about this, is some of the people over the past few days who talked of nominating her so she would get on the ballot. David Lammy, David Milliband, Stephen Twigg and Harriet Harman are just four of those to do so.

Does anyone believe for a moment any of those four New Labour high fliers want Diane Abbott to lead the Labour Party? That any would vote for her? Or that any would even wish to see her in a serious Cabinet position in a future Labour government? Of course not.

There can only be two reasons why such individuals would wish to nominate Abbott. Firstly because they believe she can contribute to or help create a particular debate within the Party over the next few weeks. Given the last thing you associate with New Labour is debate, this is surely unlikely. The second, is tokenism. They did not want a list that was entirely made up of white male Oxbridge graduates, so Ms Abbott is there purely as a token figure.

The post Brown, post Blair Labour party, on this showing, will be remarkably similar to its earlier incantations. Lacking in principle and belief, but forever ready to put forward style over substance, with occassional trips into identity politics whenever its radical credentials are questioned. Perhaps the only surprise is that some people actually still expect anything better...........

June 07, 2010

Lets start with two. First up the truly awful reprise of New Order's World In Motion single from 1990. This features a distinctly rotund John Barnes, who judging from his spells as manager at Celtic and Tranmere has probably found his natural level in advertising. Perhaps the worst bit is that one person in the video appears to be trying to impersonate Keith Allen. Imagine having that on your CV!

June 05, 2010

Seeing as I'm missing the Derby today, I have taken solace in some World Cup betting.

I have gone for old foes Argentina to win the tournament at 7-1. Certainly better prices were available on Maradona's men several months ago, but they are still good odds, and wiser than a bet on England. My other punt was going to be on Ivory Coast to beat Portugal in the group match on 15 June. Sven Goran Erikson is a master of preparation, whose teams usually start well (as we saw so often with England it was only when games wore on and events intervened that he struggled tactically) whilst Portugal have been in mixed form for some time.

The difficulty is with the adult baby Didier Drogba now injured, the Ivorians have lost their best player. I'll see how the betting takes shape nearer the match, but an Ivory Coast win now looks a lot this likely.

June 03, 2010

As it is unlikely any Liverpool supporters will be launching a campaign to keep Rafa Bentitez in his post, I guess it falls on us Manchester United supporters to do so.

One of football's great nearly men, Benitez has only had six years to find he comes a poor second best to Sir Alex Ferguson. Surely another couple of seasons and he would be there? Should his departure be confirmed this week, United fans travelling to the Costa Brava this summer are urged to enquire at tavernas and bars if any waiter vacancies are available - in this role at least, Rafa looks the part.

But who will replace the great man? With Mourinho having taken a bigger and better job, Avram Grant likely to head to West Ham, attention will surely fall on Roy Hodgson of Fulham. I don't think Hodgson is that daft - why take the risk of grappling with Liverpool's debt when he is on a nice little number where he is? Hilariously Sky Sports News this morning is talking of a possible return - albeit in the short term - for Kenny Dalglish. His morose countenance has been greatly missed by United fans, ever since Alex Ferguson 'knocked him off his fucking perch'. In the years since his very early retirement Dalglish has spent most of his time on the golf course, or hanging around with gangsters. (If you don't believe me google Dalglish and the Adams family, or look at the case of the explosive device that was discovered near his house)

With little or no up to date knowledge of the game, Dalglish seems ideally suited to a further spell at Anfield. The fans are stupid enough to welcome him back and if he were to take Phil Thompson with him as assistant, we would be spared his scouse loving anecdotes on Sky each Saturday during the season. rafa must stay. But if not, this is the dream ticket - over to you Gillette and Hicks!

June 02, 2010

Benyamin Netanayu appears to have learned nothing of the fall from power of George W Bush and the American Neo-Conservatives. Israel appears to be one of the few countries left where this disastrous ideology is not only articulated, but put into practice.

Some dubious and unpleasant characters will have been on the Gaza aid convoys. Full details are yet to emerge of the Britons illegally arrested by Israel, but if past work in this field is anything to go by they are likely to be a mixture of pacifists, middle class lefties and British Islamists. Not exactly the type of people you want running your life, and somewhat strange bedfellows, but that hardly justifies boarding a convoy of ships in international waters, killing civilians from a NATO country, and battering scores of others.

One consequence of this disastrous action has been a reminder of how fixed opinions now are on the Middle East. Over at the always readable Harry's Place some commentators have been in full "Israel Right or Wrong" mode, an approach that is actually more damaging to Israel's security and existence than anything Hamas could ever come up. Such attitudes have encouraged Netanayu - and before him Sharon - entrenched them in their policies and ensured the impossible - that Hamas actually looks to people in Palestine (and some elsewhere) to be an organisation worthy of support.

As I commented yesterday on Harry's Place:

The result of this nonsense is an Israel that is more isolated, more hated and weaker – in diplomatic terms – than at any stage since it was founded. All it really has left is the capacity to use ever more deadly violence against its rivals.

Israel is staring into the abyss.

Equally fixed of course are those who see an underdog - preferably one of a dark skin pigmentation - and support them without considering what they are actually fighting for. There are enough translations of the Hamas Covenant on line for such views to be inexcusable. Equally daft are those who claim to be anarchists or internationalists, but who's positions on these issues are all too often identical to the baying voices of the last century left. There are only so many times you can stand outside the Israel Embassy next to groups of Islamists shouting "Allah Akhbar" and appear distinct from them...............

The left - as represented by blogs such as Lenin's Tomb or Socialist Unity - is probably incapable of recognising this. Anarchists are - which is why this blog serves a purpose, in ensuring the views of what I think are the majority of anarchists - are not drowned out by those who have soaked up far more from the Trotsyist left than they would care to admit.